Editorial: Monday Briefing

Resolute on New Year’s resolutions

New Year’s resolutions last about as long as the first month of the year.

Whether it is getting off our posteriors and hitting the gym, eating better, quitting smoking or any of the multitude of resolutions people make today, more than likely these resolutions will be extinct when February rolls around. (According to various media outlets, up to 80 percent of resolutions fail by February.)

So, with this reality in mind, we offer a few New Year’s resolutions that we think — or hope — we all can keep.

Happy New Year.

Road Trip

The Bell Street Bridge construction project on Interstate 40 in Amarillo is the poster child for the explosion of road construction projects in the city.

This project has — at times — brought highway traffic to a standstill, and resulted in traffic jams near and around Bell Street as motorists look for alternate routes.

However, Amarillo motorists should be used to the inconvenience by now, and should resolve to cease complaining.

We will celebrate when the Bell Street bridge project is officially complete, and will drive across the bridge with heartfelt glee.

In the meantime, we will not complain — until if and when this project creates another interstate traffic jam.

Muddy March?

This is not so much our resolution as a request of all candidates running for office in the March 6 primary. (It will be here sooner than you think. Early voting starts Feb. 20.)

There are several key races on the Amarillo ballot, including a three-person GOP race for state Senate, including the incumbent, Kel Seliger.

Several judge positions in Potter and Randall counties are up for grabs as current officeholders opted to retire or to not run for another term.

Our request is that all candidates wage campaigns which focus on the issues, and not resort to mudslinging or personal attacks.

There has been little, if any, indication mudslinging will occur in any local race, and we hope it stays that way.

History Lesson

This resolution is a little unfair, because we have already been keeping this resolution — to the best of our ability.

From time to time, critics of President Donald Trump throw out the “Nazi” card when piling on the president or his supporters.

It is time for a reality check.

Regardless of opinion on the president, he is not a Nazi — and the comparison is offensive and absurd, especially from a historical perspective.

We have recently not allowed such presidential comparisons on AGN editorial pages, and will continue to keep this restriction.